Tom Coughlin, as expected, said a gentlemanly good-bye Tuesday to the New York Giants.

Unexpectedly, Coughlin did not say good-bye to football.

In an emotional news conference that left quarterback Eli Manning near tears, Coughlin left the door open for a return to coaching. While it’s uncertain how much interest there would be from other teams, it’s clear Coughlin intends to stay active in the game. He just didn’t say where. Or how.

“Not necessarily. Not necessarily,” Coughlin said when asked if his passion for coaching had been extinguished.

Coughlin joked that his wife probably wouldn’t put up with having him around the house. “I will somehow (stay involved in the game). My wife will not want me to be home longer than probably 48 hours. There is your coat, don’t you have someplace to go?”

Asked if he would look for another coaching job, Coughlin demurred, telling reporters: “I didn’t say that. I said I’m not necessarily done with coaching.”

Somewhere, in the Coughlin household there is the echo of a phone. Ringing. Bet on it.

How Coughlin, who will turn 70 prior to the 2016 season kickoff, answers those calls will be intriguing.

In his farewell speech he praised a Giants’ organization he led through 12 seasons. He spoke of trust and joy and a four-letter word not often associated with the testosterone fuelled world of football - love!

“In professional football, the goal is to win. We all know that. But my contention is there’s a higher ground. There’s a greater purpose. That purpose is team. It is the team concept,” said Coughlin, looking relaxed and energized. “Winning, losing, playing hard, playing well, doing it for each other, winning the right way, winning the right way is a very, very important thing to me.

“Championships are won by teams who love one another, who love and respect one another, who play for and support one another.”

Manning, who has played his entire career under Coughlin, fought back tears, and his lips quivered, as Coughlin defended him from criticism for the Giants’ losing season.

“He thinks he’s the reason. He’s not the reason,” said Coughlin, pointing at Manning. “Eli, it’s not you, it’s not you. It’s us.”

With Manning fighting his emotions, Coughlin praised him as a person; as a player who must now lead a team facing significant change.

“He can handle it all. He’s done it before. He’ll handle it again. He’s extremely bright. He’s extremely competitive. He’s what you want a son to be made out of,” said Coughlin. “He’s going to be right in here in about two days starting to work on next year, just like he always does. That’s never going to change.”

One of those changes will be a replacement for Coughlin. The Giants have requested permission to interview Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who also has meetings with the Eagles, Browns and Dolphins. Co-owner John Mara said offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would interview for the job. He also wouldn’t “completely rule out” trading a draft pick for a coach, which could put the Saints’ Sean Payton into the discussion.

At the same news conference, general manager Jerry Reese took responsibility for the team’s leaky roster. “I take full responsibility for every player that’s been on this roster from the time I’ve been director of player personnel until right now. Obviously, there are some situations on the roster that need to be addressed. It’s not easy to turn a roster over and start a rebuild.”

Reese will have to find a way. Quickly. Either that, or about this time next year, have his own farewell speech ready.

BUILDING MOMENTUM?

Stan Kroenke is going to Los Angeles. With, or without the Rams. With, or without the NFL’s blessing.

Kroenke has turned in his application to move the Rams to Los Angeles, in advance of next week’s ownership meeting which is to decide if the Rams, Chargers or Raiders get to call in the moving vans.

But Kroenke is pushing the agenda with the St. Louis Business Journal, reporting that Inglewood mayor James Butts said Kroenke and the city plan to go ahead with a stadium project, even if the NFL didn’t approve their bid.

Truth, or dare. Millionaire style.

TALKIN' SMACK

When Steve Smith changed his mind about retiring and announced last week he would rehab a torn Achilles and play next year, he got feedback. Not all of it complimentary. At age 37, some doubt his ability to return.

Smith, in turn, believes those folks, if spotted the I, couldn’t spell IQ!

“To be honest, you guys don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, so it doesn’t matter,” Smith said, via the team’s website. “The numbers I put up will be the numbers I put up, and I’ll happen to put up those numbers at the age of 37. Can I run like I used to at 22? No. But I’m comfortable being 37 years old, being on this team, and they’re comfortable with me. When I started to put up good numbers, you guys told me, ‘Well, he’ll tail off.’ What you need to do is just let me play and quit commenting about my play, because every time you all tell me something I can’t do, then you have a reason for why I’m doing it.”

Mike Shanahan interviews Thursday for the head coaching vacancy with the 49ers, who also are talking to Bills assistant head coach Anthony Lynn ... The Colts ranked 26th in total defence and Tuesday they fired defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, while Jacksonville cut ties with defensive coordinator Bob Babich ... Washington has signed cornerback Cary Williams, released earlier this year by Seattle, adding depth after safety Kyshoen Jarrett and cornerback Dashaun Phillips left last week’s game after helmet-to-helmet hits ... The Buffalo News reports the Bills are negotiating a contract extension with GM Doug Whaley ... Vikings tight end, Rhett Ellison, a key blocker in the run game, suffered a torn patellar tendon Sunday and will miss the rest of the season ... Saints quarterback Drew Brees played the last two week with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot but won’t need surgery ... Chargers’ linebacker Manti Te’o evidently is hoping Kroenke’s ploy works, leaving his team in San Diego. “Man, it’s going to suck,” Te’o said of a potential move to Los Angeles. “I’m not going to lie.”

Coughlin done with Giants, but not with football

Tom Coughlin, as expected, said a gentlemanly good-bye Tuesday to the New York Giants.

Unexpectedly, Coughlin did not say good-bye to football.

In an emotional news conference that left quarterback Eli Manning near tears, Coughlin left the door open for a return to coaching. While it’s uncertain how much interest there would be from other teams, it’s clear Coughlin intends to stay active in the game. He just didn’t say where. Or how.